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I’m sitting at my desk when all this comes up inside of me, financial reports on my computer screen. Me staring off into space. Clark had asked me to look at this an hour ago. Why is he bothering me with this kind of thing anyway? Don’t we pay other people to worry about this? I’m going to have to talk to Clark about that, but not right now. He’s got his mind on an upcoming meeting.
I look through the window of my office, across the hall and I see him pacing back and forth in his office, waiting for our potential business partners to arrive. From what I understand, they called because they weren’t clear on the details surrounding funding. I should really get on these financial reports.
It’s hard to focus, though. Especially knowing Sarah is going to be there too.
I get the reports reviewed just in time for them to arrive and before long, we’re all seated again in the conference room. This time, we don’t waste any time. There’s talk back and forth about money and finances and…
And I’m barely paying attention. Sarah is wearing a black dress that clings to her body. It’s long enough to be respectable, but I can see her thighs as she crosses her legs. She’s wearing her hair down today. Long and black and shining in the light from the daylight coming in through the windows. Jesus, she’s beautiful.
She’s standing up now and I can see the full view of her dress and how it’s complimenting her curves. Sarah’s always been shapely. Round hips and full, firm breasts that seemed to sit up on their own. She’s smiling. Those full red lips begging to be kissed.
“I think we have a deal, gentlemen,” she says. And suddenly, Clark is nudging me and bringing me back into the present. It takes a second for me to process…but from the look on Clark’s face, I think we’re actually done it.”
“Eight hundred and fifty million dollars,” says Clark, slapping his hands together. “I can’t tell you what a pleasure this has been.”
We’d done it. Eight hundred and fifty million dollars is how much they agreed to invest for a 35 percent stake in the company. That’s what had been decided while I was undressing Sarah in my mind. I’m mad at it, of course. Quite the opposite. This was exactly the outcome we’d been trying for. I just wish I’d been present for the talks. It’s all good, though. I still own 55 percent of the company, so it’s not like I won’t be able to make all the important decisions.
But also, I’m a fucking millionaire. Amillionaire.
As the realization is coming over me, I pull Clark in for a hug with one arm wrapped around his neck roughly. Merrily. Okay, that’s highly unprofessional, but no one cares. A deal that was going to end up making us billions had just been struck.
Sarah’s smiling at me and my heart flutters. I look away from her quickly.
The company’s CEO, Mr. Smith, says in a deep, crackly voice, “We should celebrate this deal. How about dinner?”
“Yes, of course, sir,” says Clark. “And you know what? The dinner’s on me.” He gets a round of applause for that.
Mr. Smith nods and says, “That’ll do us just fine. We already spent enough money.”
Bright laughter from everyone. Mr. Smith adjusts his expensive suit jacket and says, “I can’t wait to get started on this thing on Monday. We’ll be sure our people are well briefed on all that needs to be done.”
I just lost him. I glance at Clark, but I keep smiling. I guess this is what I get for not paying attention at the most important meeting of my career.
After everyone’s gone, I turn to Clark, who’s all smiles.
“See,” he said. “I told you we had nothing to worry about.”
I snorted a laugh at him, knowing it was really the other way around on who was worried. “Listen, I spaced out for a minute. They’re coming back here on Monday?”
Clark nodded. “Yeah. They would only agree to the terms if they could have a team overseeing the project.”
I feel a pit of dread in my stomach.Oh, no.I already know the answer before I ask. “Who’s the project manager?”
He shook his head. “You must have been really out of it,” he said. “They’re having Sarah, um…” He paused, trying to remember her last name. Clark has always been terrible with names.
It doesn’t matter, though. I know who he’s talking about.
All right. So, it’s as I feared. The ghost of my past has walked right back into my life and is now sitting at the same table as me. This was going to be a mess.
She’ll be at dinner tonight. I guess I ought to make the best of it.
She’s eating soup and so am I. We keep glancing at each other from across the table, but, so far, neither of us as spoken directly to the other.
I’m not sure what to say. How do I start a conversation with a woman I used to have a meaningful relationship with?
The air around us is already thick. I’m trying not to notice her cleavage or the way the amber light of the restaurant is making her skin appear to glow.
Damn, she’s as stunning as ever.
